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U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., is asking for more federal money to help small communities with flood protection projects, citing West Pittston as a prime example of one that would benefit.

Since the Tropical Storm Lee flooding of Sept. 8-9, 2011 wreaked havoc on their community, West Pittston residents have been lobbying for a study to determine if a levee would be feasible.

But a backlog in requests for the Small Flood Risk Management Project continues to delay federal analysis of their effort, Casey says.

“The 2011 flood that devastated West Pittston serves as a stark reminder that it is far more economical to manage flooding before it occurs, rather than wait until the damage hits,” Casey stated in a prepared release. “The Army Corps of Engineers is currently backed up with requests from municipalities like West Pittston that need assistance to help protect their communities from damaging floods. I urge my colleagues to strongly consider helping to ease this backlog by providing the additional funding.”

In a letter sent Wednesday to the chairs of the committee on Appropriations and its subcommittee on energy and water development, which oversee flood-related funding, Casey asked for their support of a House proposal to provide $20 million in funding for the Small Flood Risk Management Project. The project, from Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1948, provides federal funding to allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to undertake smaller flood control projects — $7 million or less — that don’t require extensive studies and authorization procedures. Each project is planned and designed by the Corps and is only accepted if it is economically justifiable, environmentally sound, and technically feasible.

In 2014 the Small Flood Risk Management Project received $15 million in federal money, but funding for the program is uncertain in the 2015 budget, according to Casey.

“The borough of West Pittston, Pennsylvania is just one example of a community in need of such funding,” Casey wrote in his letter to the Appropriations Committee. “West Pittston, which is located along the banks of the Susquehanna River in Luzerne County, is not protected by a levee. The borough therefore continuously endures the threat of flooding each time river levels rise.

“The risk facing West Pittston again came into focus in September 2011 when the borough experienced millions of dollars in damage to more than 400 homes caused by flood waters from the Susquehanna River. Today West Pittston is making efforts to protect its community from future damage, and funding from the Section 205 program can help the borough evaluate options to manage risks associated with flooding.”

In May, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic, also wrote to the heads of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development asking for more money for the program.

“We at West Pittston Tomorrow are delighted to hear the news,” the community organization’s President Judy Aita stated regarding Casey’s support. “We knew that congressman Cartwright had pushed for increased funding in the House appropriations bill. Now to hear that Sen. Casey is looking out for us in the Senate is wonderful news.”

She added, “After last week’s discouraging meeting with the U.S. Army Corps, (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) and Wyoming Valley Flood Protection Authority, this lifts our spirits. At that meeting last week we were told we’re not part of Wyoming Valley, we’re not even on the map. If we can get funding for our Section 205 study, it’s a first step in getting back on the map.”

eskrapits@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2072

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